On A Level Results Day, you might be wondering what you can do to support the young people in your family. Here is a brief guide about what you can do:
Picking up the results
A lot of students choose to pick up their results from their school/college from as early as 6am but make sure they check with their individual institutions as to what time they are opening and even closing so they don’t miss out. Sometimes students can nominate someone to pick up results on their behalf but this needs to be confirmed with the school/college as they may require signed consent/ID.
Students will receive their results in a sealed envelope, certificates will be provided at a later date. If they have applied to university via UCAS, they can login to check if they have been accepted on their firm or insurance choice.
What to do next
If the young person has narrowly missed out, you can support them to still contact the University directly as they may still accept them but if they meet the requirements for their second choice, they might be offered their place there. Teaching staff and Careers Advisers are normally available on the day so there is plenty of support, no matter the outcome.
Universities also offer places via their ‘Clearing’ system which means that if students don’t have any offers they become eligible for Clearing and can search and apply for any course vacancies that universities have. Clearing places are published on the UCAS website and in The Independent newspaper. Contacting universities directly to discuss and apply for these places is the best course of action.
Check out the UCAS results day guide for information about if your young person does better than they expected as well as other options. https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/ucas-undergraduate-results
Other options could include: re-sits, applying again next year, taking a gap year, applying for apprenticeships or looking at employment. Again, these options can be explored with their Teachers and Careers Advisers.
Whatever happens, make sure they know that you are available and are there to help as it can be a very important, exciting but nerve-wrecking day!
